Trip Report on Branson over Thanksgiving

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

First, a huge thank you to JLB for all of the advice on Branson. We had a fantastic time at the Big Cedar Wilderness Club over Thanksgiving week. Thanks to JLB for arranging the dinner at Famous Dave's. Not only did my family enjoy a nice meal, but I got to meet JLB and his lovely wife and Libraria99 (Sandi) and her husband. We had a picture taken of the group, but I can't seem to get it to attach here.

JLB -- my wife absolutely loved BCWC. Indeed, she would like to go back. What made our trip so enjoyable was the fact that we had beautiful weather and stayed at BCWC. I'm not so sure we would have had as good of a time had we stayed at a timeshare in Branson. We loved doing stuff around BCWC. We only went into Branson for two shows and a few dinners. As you know, we brought a boat down to do some fishing. Unfortunately, nobody was fishing on Table Rock Lake as the fish must have flown south for the winter. So, we heard about the trout fishing on Lake Taneycomo (it is essentially the width of a river at the Branson Landing location). My three kids had a blast. On one day, they caught about 40 trout in less than 2 hours. We bagged our limit over two days and brought the fish home. I can't wait to fry them up.

Overall, a great trip. I can't say enough about BCWC. We stayed in the lodge and it was great. I did a preview tour and looked at the cabins -- wow! For only $24,000 you too can own a cabin for one summer week a year. Yeah, right.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Keep it down, Tim. We already have enough folks trying to get around on our two-lane roads!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Tim...I'm glad that you, and your family enjoyed your stay in Branson. Sounds like you had a great Thanksgiving dinner. We would love to see your pictures...

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

Angela, we did have a great Thanksgiving dinner, but that was not at Famous Dave's. JLB organized a Sunday dinner for timesharers to meet at Famous Dave's. On Thanksgiving day, we took JLB's advice and ate at BCWC's Worman House. It is a fancy restuarant with a very nice view of Table Rock Lake. We were fortunate to get a table next to the window looking out to the Lake. And, the buffet dinner was excellent. I had to book the reservation several months in advance -- again, on the advice of JLB. Thanks JLB!

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Sounds like JBL gave you some good advice. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the day.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We and our friends had a change of plans Thanksgiving Day and wound up eating at IHOP.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Sounds like JBL gave you some good advice. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the day.

Nice speakers.

If I ever get out that way I expect similar treatment.

Waiting for the review on Big Cedar and why you think you would not enjoy yourself at other Branson timeshares.

FYI I think you have to add the picture to your album on the photoserver before you can link it to a post.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Great minds travel the same path. That's the first thing I always think, and want to say, but bite my tongue.

When you come this way, make it summer so we can play on the lake.

Did Tim mention they have horses at Big Cedar?

Nice speakers.

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

I didn't mention the horses, but will do so now. Yes, Big Cedar has horses. I took the kids horseback riding -- it was a one hour trail ride through the hills with a short view of the lake. It was very nice and slow -- which was good for me -- but the kids wanted a little more action. The cost was around $26 per person for the hour ride.

[michaelsmalley Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close michaelsmalley]

Good ole JLB

Sounds like JBL gave you some good advice. I'm glad that you all enjoyed the day.

JLB proves the old saying "Even a stopped clock is right, twice a day"

Mike S.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I didn't mention the horses, but will do so now. Yes, Big Cedar has horses. I took the kids horseback riding -- it was a one hour trail ride through the hills with a short view of the lake. It was very nice and slow -- which was good for me -- but the kids wanted a little more action. The cost was around $26 per person for the hour ride.

I tend to get yelled at when we go on trail rides. For some reason they folks who take you out for a walk don't appreciate what I can get their horses to do... except once on St Maarten where they gave me a lovely grey who FLEW over the sand.

Still want to hear all about Big Cedar, Tim.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Nice speakers.

Opps!

[tim Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close tim]

JLB, this is why I just use "tim" as my call name. It's hard to mess that up, right JBL?

Lawren, okay here is a bit more on the stay at Big Cedar Wilderness Club. First, let me tell you how we got the unit. About a year ago, I sought advice about which resorts to try to exchange into. JLB gave me a nice list and, of course, BCWC was on the top. Of course, I wanted a really nice resort to take the family to and one that had an indoor heated pool. Because my wife didn't want to go to Branson (which is another story for a later time), I was particularily on the watch for top tier resort. While I was hopeful for BCWC, JLB advised that it would be very difficult to get a 2 bedroom unit. Ultimately, I exchanged into Fairfield as a nice 2 bedroom came up in RCI. About 2 months ago, I saw a 1 bedroom BCWC lodge unit come up in RCI. And, RCI also had a 1 bedroom lodge unit available on extra vacations. Based on JLB's advice and the glowing report from Boca, I jumped on this and had RCI switch my Fairfield exchange to BCWC (for a fee) and paid for the extra vacation. SO, in the end, I got two one bedroom units next door to each other in a lodge (2600 Kings River Lodge).

Now a bit about BCWC. This resort is located about 15 miles south of Branson. IMHO, this is a benefit as Branson can be a bit overwhelming with all the theaters and traffic. The resort is located at Table Rock Lake, with beautiful views, and is situated on some hills. In short, the grounds are beautiful. Everything is very well maintained. And, there is the added benefit of having Big Cedar Lodge next door. We were charged a $5 per day fee per unit for the ability to use the Big Cedar Lodge amenties (my wife used the work out facility). The entire resort was beautifully decorated with pumpkins and Thanksgiving type things. And, at night, the resort came alive with thousands of Christmas lights on the buildings. This made for some very nice views.

The lodge units themselves were also very nice. Everything was very clean and of high quality. We had a nice view of a portion of the lake from our balcony as well. And, the kids loved the fact that every evening the "Cookie Lady" came by to deliver cookies to all of the guests. Even when we weren't there, the cookies were placed in our unit. It was fun guessing each night with the kids as to the type of cookies that would be there waiting for us. Finally, I want to mention the indoor pool. It was just a regular pool with a small slide for the kids. What was remarkable about the pool was the fact that it was heated to a very warm temp. Most places advertise a heated pool and it takes about 5 minutes to gradually walk in to get used to the cold water. Not at BCWC. The kids went right in and I was able to do the same. It was a nice touch.

So, I rate this vacation as excellent. It was so primarily because of BCWC and the location. Also, I might add that we had great weather. And, we did venture into Branson for two shows. If you would have blindfolded us and put us at BCWC without knowing that Branson was 15 miles away, we still would have had a fantastic time. In other words, we didn't need Branson and the shows. Yet, being close enough to venture in for a show was a nice extra. We definately plan to go back, but I don't know when as I have the next 2 years planned out for vacations. Oh what a joy it is to have such problems.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I agree with MIT.

[mshatty Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close mshatty]

I agree with MIT.

No that should be TMI.